Do you think that social networking sites have made people hate themselves more than they already did?

These sites have a constant need for posting pictures - girls especially always feel pressure to look photo-ready for their next profile picture. The question is - what if you don't like how you look? Aren't photogenic? Your photos are going to greet you every day you sign on. Wouldn't this ruin anyone's self-esteem? Is the pressure just too high?

This is a discussion that should really be had. I feel like it's too much sometimes - I never noticed how much make-up girls wear on a daily basis until recently, & I feel like there is a lot of pressure. However, I'm sure the guys feel the pressure to look photo-ready 24/7 as well.

I just don't think social networking is good for confidence. And yeah, someone doesn't have to use it if they don't want to, but the fact is, a person might feel left out if their not on FB. I remember not having a FB for a long time & I felt like I was on the outside of some fictional loop.

i agree but i suppse thats the price u pay for always being connected... theres also the issue about seeing pictures/posts/comments about things u werent invited to that makes people feel bad sometimes... theres a lot of negative aspects of social networking beyond cyber bullying that dont get a lot of attention

Being ugly ruins self image, not Facebook.

I think it's ruined interpersonal skills within people oddly enough.

If someone hates how they look, and know they can't post the perfect photographs some other FB friends do, I'm sure it would upset them.

It goes for any site where pictures can be posted though - including ATRL. I've seen numerous instances of cyber bullying in PYP for pictures. It should be absolutely intolerable & an immediate 2-month ban for any instance of bullying for physical appearance imo.

Then in NHB people will use insults regarding looks as well.

I don't think any single person or social network should be enough to make someone hate themselves. I think that it's just something thats focused on rather than the deeper issue that the person didn't have a good foundation of self worth to begin with. Other wise you'd love who you were regardless. I think that social networking sites have made it EASIER to tarnish ones perception of their self but not necessarily forced them or enabled them to have a lower opinion of their self image.

It makes me feel more confident in my own intelligence.

But like MusicTalker is saying, I also do think the social network sites have made bullying easier to ensue which could deplete someones self confidence but when a site is made, I don't think they take that into consideration. Maybe sites should enforce stricter rules against online bullying

This. And I ****ing hate it when they always say how they're ugly and everyone else is pretty, just so people will tell them otherwise...

Maybe just on pictures though. On posts the "like" feature is absolutely essential.

YES.!

I wish Facebook didn't exist.

What gets me is these kids using it... as early as middle school or even grade school

Bullying is bad enough in school, facebook further complicates the issue. With that said, people can post what they like on social media sites and I believe the real issue here is parents failing to monitor and be aware of their kids' social lives, both in real life and on the internet.

I think this is mainly a problem for those in high school or middle school. Nowadays I never really notice people commenting like crazy on the attractive people's pictures. I have younger cousins though and I notice how ridiculous things can get with facebook. One of my "popular" cousins gets 10-50 comments and 50+ likes on their profile pictures.

I have like, maybe 8 pictures on my Facebook. Meanwhile my friends have entire albums that have hundreds of pics in them. I've never been a photo kind of girl, and social networking won't change that. Though I wish others would understand it

I only post pictures of myself on twitter on very rare occassions... When I do, I get comments like these....

"But Oh @ Jake being more attractive than all of you uglies"

"you're a lot more attractive than I imagined"

Posting pictures actually BOOSTS my self confidence, but that's because I only post pictures when I actually feel confident.

The reason I don't post pictures isn't because I feel ugly, although that is part of it... I don't post pictures of me because I'm not all that comfortable with gay guys calling me attractive.

No, it doesn't ruin it. Because, first of all YOU are the one who decided to join that social network. The rest are the consequences and everybody should be aware of that.

Depends on who you are and how much you're willing to say. 'Cause, for me, it's made me stronger than I used to be. I'm more brash than I realized and not (too) afraid to speak my mind.

nah, I think the opposite. Facebook + Twitter are powered by egoism. Think about it - 'Need more follows' 'Need more likes' is basically: I need more confirmation of my funniness/attractiveness/cleverness/etc.

It helped me get through high school though My CTRL+C posts have made me quite popular! Well.. Okay.. Not popular, but nobody wants to lynch me anymore!